That night, just as I was drifting into the realm of dreams, the shades started to dance. The shadows took on forms of woodland creatures, running around my room and out the door. Thinking I was dreaming, i followed them into the hall and down the stairs. They danced around the living room as if trying to decide which way to get out. Deciding on a window, they went out one by one, the last shade, in the form of a rabbit, looked back at me, urging me to follow. We went out into the yard, past the fence and into the wood. When I was not but ten paces into the wood, did my house turn to flame. When I turned to my home, it started to collapse, just as my mind decided to collapse.
I fell to the ground and screamed. Screaming for Mother. Screaming for Father. Screaming for the servants whose names I would never know. Behind me the shades changed their forms, to the wolves I had seen in my dreams but nights before. They howled with me, watching me as I watched my home turn to nothing more than cinders and ash.